Happy 235th Birthday America!!!!!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

From The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson

PATRIOTIC QUOTES and MUSIC

The manner in which the whole of this business was conducted was such a miracle in human affairs, that if I had not been in the midst of it, and seen all the movements, I could not have comprehended how it was effected. I had no doubt of our finally succeeding in this war by the blessing of God. This is the greatest revolution the world has ever seen.

Benjamin Franklin on the American Revolution

Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.

John Quincy Adams

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show if strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have over eaten, but it is patriotism.

Erma Bombeck

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.

John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address 1961

Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.

Benjamin Franklin

Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!

Samuel F. Smith, song America

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.

Harry Truman

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me.

Woody Guthrie

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

Abraham Lincoln

There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream.

Archibald MacLeish

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Martin Luther King

Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world.

Woodrow Wilson

Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.

Ulysses S. Grant

The light may be fading on the 20th century, but the sun is still rising on America.

Bill Clinton

Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,

George M. Cohan

The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.

Thomas Jefferson

… ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy

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John P. Sousa – The Stars and Stripes Forever played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra led by Leonard Bernstein.

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Featured Recipe Artichokes, Tomatoes, & Shrimp Salad

If you are like me, the last thing you want on the day after the 4th of July is leftover hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, potato salad, ribs, or even steak if you were one of the lucky few this 4th who could afford steak this year.

Plus on the first day back to work after a three day holiday weekend you don’t even want to look at the kitchen, do you? I know I don’t. But I am not quite ready for take out or fast food either.

So what’s a poor Joe or Jane to do?

Today’s recipe is perfect for a day like this. It is quick and easy. It stars shrimp. Yum-yum from the get-Go, right? And it is light and airy, a perfect antidote to all the starchy foods I ate over the holiday.

You can make this with any kind of shrimp: canned, pre-cooked, or raw shrimp you cook yourself.

I use raw shrimp because it doesn’t take but 15 minutes to prepare and cook. And fresh is simply more delicious!!! You can make rest of the salad while the shrimp cooks.

If you are cooking your own shrimp you can microwave, boil, grill, or, as I do oven roast the shrimp. The technique for each of these cooking options can be found at this link: How to Cook Shrimp.

I used Ina Garten’s way of cooking shrimp which is to roast it in the oven. You can see how that is done by clicking the following link: Ina Garten’s Way. I made one change. Since I had very small shrimp I roasted in a 350 degree oven and turned after 5 minutes and then roasted the second side only 3 minutes, for a total of 8 minutes.

Cooking time for shrimp depends on how big the shrimp is. The smaller the shrimp, the shorter the cooking time. Do not overcook shrimp or it will become rubbery, tough, and tasteless.

Another great thing about this recipe is there is very, VERY little clean up too!!

This is what you will need for 3 salads:

1/3 to 2/3 pound shrimp

1 can artichoke hearts (not marinated)

2 green onions

1 clove garlic

12-16 ounces cherry tomatoes

5 tablespoons olive oil divided

4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice divided

Lettuce of your choice

Salt and pepper to taste

Here is what you do:

Peel and rinse the shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry.

NOTES: Some people prefer to devein the shrimp. For large shrimp it is probably a necessity. For small shrimp like I used today, it is a matter of preference. It is not necessaey. See the following : Devein Shrimp?

The shrimp I bought are so small that if I tried to devein them they would probably fall apart.

If you want to devein your shrimp there are dozens of videos and sites that show and tell you how on the internet. Here is one of the best from epicurious.

Mince the garlic……..

And place in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil along with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice to the bowl.

Add the shrimp and salt and pepper to taste. Using your fingers gently coat all of the shrimp with the olive oil mixture.

Then place the shrimp on a baking sheet in a single layer. Pour any olive oil remaining in the bowl over the shrimp. Place in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.

DO NOT OVERCOOK THE SHRIMP.

After 5 minutes turn the shrimp over. Can you tell in the picture which shrimp I have turned over? Place back into the oven for 2-3 more minutes.

Remove the shrimp from the oven and let cool.

NOTE: The shrimp can be done the day before and refrigerated making this meal even quicker to fix on the day you eat it.

While the shrimp are cooking wash the lettuce, tomatoes, and the green onions too. (Green onions not pictured. I washed later.) Dry the lettuce completely.

NOTE: This can also be done the night before.

When you are ready to eat cut the tomatoes in half and slice the green onions.

Make the dressing. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you want a bit more flavor add ¼ teaspoon of organo to the dressing to give it a bit of a Greek flavor. Or add some heat. Whatever you want or like.

Served with a nice chunky piece of bread with butter, this is a lite but filling meal.

Bon Appetite!!!!

Cost

1/3 to 2/3 pound shrimp $8.57

1 can artichoke hearts $2.79

2 green onions $0.10

1 clove garlic $0.05

12-16 oz. cherry tomatoes $0.99

5 tablespoons olive oil $0.65

4 tablespoons lemon juice $0.43

Lettuce $1.21

Salt and pepper to taste

Total cost = $14.79

Cost per salad = $4.93

Quote of the Day

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.

Can you eat fish? Maybe bake some fish and cut it into medium sized chunks and put on salad. Or maybe tuna fish, but don’t bake it. Diced ham or left over porck chops or steak. Good way to use up left over meat. Just don’t bake it. How does that sound?

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